SOLVING PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE AND PIPING CAPACITY PROBLEMS

摘要

Engineers often uncover problems or inadequacies with pressure relief valve and relief systempiping capacities that need creative and cost effective solutions. These problems may surface inmany ways. For example, when attempting to close a HAZOP recommendation, it may bediscovered that the pressure relief valve (PRV) capacity is inadequate. A debottlenecking studymay reveal that a PRV is too small or backpressure is excessive. While updating process safetyinformation (PSI), calculations for an installed PRV may indicate that PRV inlet piping pressuredrop exceeds the 3% rule. Resolving inadequacies in pressure relief systems must be addressedto ensure this important safety system will perform its function during an emergencyoverpressure event, and to meet industry codes, standards and RAGAGEP. Increasing pipesizes to solve capacity problems can be costly, so alternative, creative solutions are needed. Inthis paper, Trimeric Corporation explores practical solutions to solve PRV and inlet/outlet pipingcapacity issues. “Rules of thumb” commonly applied to pressure relief systems and ideas foravoiding piping rework are also discussed.